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PANGASINAN | Intense Sunset at Bolinao’s Patar Rock Formation

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The land was bathed in glowing magentas. Waves relentlessly pounded Patar’s distinct shoreline, the natural elevated seabed extending some meters into the roiling sea acted as my personal breakwater and my landscape playground. The tide hurriedly crashed in, I waited as it filled my mesa; I lightly touch my camera’s shutter waiting for the right moment when the water ebbed back to the sea and pressed it at the crucial split second as another set of waves crashed into me.

This is the only reason I stayed a day more in Patar, Bolinao. There were a few more caves, another waterfall and probably some more sights I was unable to visit during our tour of the place but my interest was focused on only one thing, Patar’s unique rock formations and how I would capture its beauty during the golden hour.

The quest to find the perfect vantage point started early. I don’t want to be caught dead standing on a mediocre foreground once the sun starts going down. So I scoured the area, looking for interesting formations and checking its safety level. The waves were having their rock n’ roll sessions and the last thing I wanted is for my camera (or even worse, me) to be dragged into the mad sea of Patar.

An hour of walking and the light started to change. Slowly, warm colors started to glow at the low horizon, making a graceful gradient to the blue sky above, and the rays of the silently retreating sun casted an additional glow to the already golden sands of Patar. I took position and readied myself.

Hunking down low, I tried to capture the fringes of coral stones hugging Patar’s beach, imagining them as monstrous tentacles reaching out to the sea. The open hut situated on the hill opposite the formation provided a good middle ground for the photo and the warmth of the retiring sun bestowed me with the perfect background.

Unfortunately, the colors of the sky weren’t as intense as I imagined it to be. With the sun already halfway below the horizon, I was almost losing hope of capturing my own lasting version of Patar’s landscapes.

The magic began as the sun disappeared below the sea. The sky turned into an intense shade of magenta and the land was bathed in crimson. Barefoot, I braved the edge of the mesa drop and was instantly lost on the day’s intense afterglow.

The waves were coming in and the light was dropping fast. But I just had to get this. This is what I came here for. I anchored myself tightly and prayed that no rouge wave would come to pull me into the chaos of the chasm.

And in those few precious instants, I got my shot. You just knew when you’ve nailed it even before the image preview comes on at your camera’s LCD. I could have packed up and rested, contented and confident that I finally have my Patar Rock Formation photo, but I just have to get more.

It is, up to this day, the most intense kind of light I’ve ever seen. And I was at the edge of Patar’s coastal drop as long as it lasted.

Grabe Christian. Thanks to this photo. Though I dont know how you do it and what filter you use, I still very amazed with these photos. Good thing you anchored yourself tightly that no "rouge waves" could pulled you out from the safe ground.:-). Congrats again bai, you have a great captured photos.

Im scared of the waves here.. So, I would never stand on the edge of its massive slamming. Thought the same way too, Bolinao's Rock formation would be mystical during golden hours. The magentas are good, well pleasing. B-)